Best Sausage Stuffers
Sausages, yum. Made with a mixture of minced or ground meat, pork or chicken, spices and sometimes breadcrumbs, the filling of this delicious and much-loved food is then stuffed into a casing to be cooked, smoked, dried or fermented. If you love sausages, it’s good to know that you can make them easily at home using a sausage stuffer.
Why make sausages at home when they are available in the grocery store or at the butcher? Because making them yourself means you’re in control of the size, the type of casing and the ingredients, making as many as you like at the fraction of the cost of the pre-made kind. And, with a sausage stuffer, it’s easy and quick.
You can get an attachment for your meat grinder or KitchenAid machine to stuff sausages, or you can purchase a dedicated sausage stuffer. Not sure which route to take? No worries. We’ve curated a list of the best you can purchase online. Read on to find what’s right for you.
1. Editor’s Choice: LEM Products 1219 20-Pound Motorized Sausage Stuffer
Stuffing sausages can be a labor-intensive task when you’re on your own. Using a hand-crank model usually takes two people for it to go smoothly, although it can be done on your own. However, to speed up the process and ensure greater success, a motorized sausage stuffer is the go-to option if you have large quantities of sausages to make and you are on your own.
Okay, we admit, this unit from LEM Products is very expensive but again, if you’re looking to make a large quantity of sausages, it’s a worthwhile investment. The sausage stuffer has a stainless steel body, base and removable cylinder. It’s powerful motor pushes with more than a ton of force, and with eight speeds from slow to fast, you have complete control to set the flow and pace.
The unit includes an electric foot switch and four stainless steel stuffing tubes — ½-inch, 5/8-inch, 1 inch and 1 ¼-inch — plus a handle for times when there is no electrical outlet. And, if this model is too high-end for your budget or even your needs, LEM offers up a full range of sausages stuffers from dual gear 10-pound models to a manual 15-pound vertical and small 3-pound tinned.
Pros:
- Electric model gets the job done quickly
- Easy to use for one person
- Foot pedal
- Eight variable speeds
Cons:
- Very expensive
- Does not work well with small casings
2. Runner Up: STX Turboforce II “Platinum” Electric Meat Grinder & Sausage Stuffer
Most sausages are stuffed with ground meat. You can buy it ground from the butcher, but why would you if you’re making your own sausages? Grinding it at home makes the most sense, but instead of having two separate apparatus — a meat grinder and a sausage stuffer — why not have one machine that can do both.
This machine from STX International gives you the best of all worlds: a heavy-duty electric meat grinder with a meat tray that can hold more than three pounds of meat, three, 304-grade stainless steel blades, five different sizes of grinding plates and three different sizes of sausage stuffing tubes — ½-inch, 5/8-inch and ¾-inch. It also includes a foot pedal control, palm meat pusher, a pair of meat claws and a burger-slider press — everything you need to grind meat and stuff sausages in one machine.
The grinder and stuffer also feature three speeds, a safety circuit breaker and a quad air cooking system to prolong the life of the machine. Designed to grind even the toughest cuts of meat, it can also handle the soft bones of chicken and quail.
Pros:
- Electric
- Grinds meat and stuffs sausages
- Strong motor
- Grinds soft bones
Cons:
- Expensive
- Not suitable for anyone who does not want to grind meat
3. Best Horizontal: Vevor Horizontal Sausage Stuffer
So far, the sausage stuffer machines on our list have been vertical models, which is the more commonly chosen design. However, a horizontal sausage stuffer is a good alternative, especially for a two-person operation.
This model from Vevor has a 304 stainless steel body, base, cylinder and tubes, for long-lasting use. The sturdy horizontal shape has a lower center of gravity, which makes it stable and perfect for a high-platform operation by one or two people. The large capacity 15-pound cylinder holds a lot of meat, and the machine is equipped with an ergonomic handle, so cranking out all that filling into the casings is easy, especially since this machine has two speeds to get you through the process faster.
The parts of the machine disassemble for easy cleaning and with five different sized filling tubes —0.4 inches, 0.6 inches, 0.87 inches, 1.26 inches and 1.5 inches — you’re on your way to making a large variety of sausages to suit your tastes.
Pros:
- Made of sturdy 304 stainless steel
- Large capacity
- Two speeds
Cons:
- Pricey
4. Best User-Friendly: MASTER FENG Sausage Stuffer
Making fresh sausages is delicious, but that doesn’t mean you are going to make them every week. If your goal is to make sausages only occasionally, then it may not pay to invest in an expensive electric sausage stuffer.
This 2.5-pound vertical stainless steel manual sausage stuffer is budget friendly and a smart choice for those instances a few times a year when you want to make hotdogs or bratwurst. Measuring only 10 inches high with all turning parts removable, it’s easy to store in a drawer or cupboard when not in use. And, when you need it, it’s easy to put together. As well, it is equipped with a sturdy clamp to attach it to a table or countertop for easy, one-person use.
The sausage stuffer comes with four stainless steel filling tubes and four plastic ones, and to reduce air pockets, there is an air-release silicone piston in the cylinder, which allows air to escape so the casing won’t break. Just place the stuffing in the cylinder, press down the top, attach the casing to the filling tube and slowly turn the handle. Use your other hand to direct the flow of the stuffing and in no time, you have fresh sausages.
Pros:
- Carbon steel gears
- Air release valve
- Clamp
- Custom-fitting nozzles
Cons:
- Doesn’t work as well with hard, dry stuffing
- Leaves some stuffing in the bottom
- Crank doesn’t fit a thicker countertop or table
5. Best for Beginners: Mudder Manual Sausage Maker Plastic Meat Filler Stuffer
Perhaps you like the concept of making your own sausages at home but you’re not sure you will enjoy the process. So, you’d like to try it, but you don’t want to lay out too much cash to do so. The next sausage stuffer on our recommendation list is the perfect choice for anyone who wants to dip their toes into the world of home-made sausages, but without making a huge commitment.
This simply constructed, lightweight sausage stuffer is made from BPA-free plastic and weighs only 6.4 ounces. The device consists of a cylinder into which you place your minced or ground stuffing, a handle to hold the sausage stuffer and a handle on top to push the stuffing through one of three different sized plastic filling tubes — 0.5-inch diameter, 0.6-inch diameter and 0.79-inch diameter.
Super affordable and easy to use, it’s a great way to decide if you like making sausages at home. Keep in mind however, that the unit is small, which means you will have fill it numerous times with filling to get a sizable number of sausages stuffed at one time. For example, three pounds of stuffing may require loading the unit six times.
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Good for beginners
- Lightweight and easy to use
Cons:
- Makes small quantity at a time
- Have to refill with stuffing numerous times for larger quantities
6. Best Vertical: Hakka 7 Lb/3 L Sausage Stuffer
Most sausage stuffers come in one of two designs: vertical or horizonal. Which one you choose depends on your comfort level, since you need a certain level of height to operate a vertical model, both in yourself being tall enough plus having nothing above the countertop to get in the way.
This unit from Hakka stands vertically on your countertop and measures 21 inches tall from top to bottom, 11.8 inches long and 8.7 inches deep, so if you have low hung kitchen cabinetry, you may want to operate it on a table. There are two speeds on the mechanical crank handle for a two-fill rate system. Use the slow speed for filling the casing and the faster speed for reversing and setting the plunger in place. The all stainless-steel sausage stuffer — including the cylinder, nuts, screws and filling tubes — are SGS food hygiene standard quality for long-lasting durability.
The four different nozzles measure 2/3-inch, 5/8-inch, 1 ¼-inch and 1 ½-inch in diameter, so you are able to make a variety of different sizes and types of sausages to suit your taste.
Pros:
- Two-fill rate system
- Four different sized filling tubes
- All parts that directly contact food are SGS food hygiene standard
Cons:
- Pricey
- Leaves too much meat at the bottom of the unit
7. Best Attachment: Stainless steel Food Grinder Attachments 2 Sausage Stuffer Tubes
If you own a KitchenAid stand mixer, then you already know what a versatile and reliable product it is, allowing you to easily make a variety of recipes using doughs, batters, mixes, and more. What is also great about this small kitchen appliance is the number of different attachments that are available from KitchenAid or other sellers, including a meat grinder with sausage stuffer tubes for an all-in-one experience.
This meat grinder is compatible with all KitchenAid stand mixers and is made from durable stainless steel, which makes it a bit more expensive than other compatible attachments constructed from aluminum alloy or plastic. This attachment will not rust and is dishwasher safe, so it’s worth the extra investment. You can grind two pounds of meat per minute with the grinder that comes with two stainless steel grinding blades, three different stainless steel cutting plates (coarse, medium, fine) and a large capacity detachable tray that prevents the meat from clogging.
Once the meat is ground, you can use one of the two different sized sausage fillers to make sausages such as boudin sausage, Italian sausage, summer sausage, bratwurst and chorizo.
Pros:
- Made of non-rusting stainless steel
- A meat grinder and a sausage stuffer
- Dishwasher safe
Cons:
- A bit pricey
- Only works on a KitchenAid stand mixer
8. Also Consider: JZENZERO One Press Sausages Maker
Home-made sausages are delicious, but they can be a real production to produce. And, between grinding the meat, finding a good sausage stuffer and sourcing the right casing, it can also be expensive. That’s why we love this manual, really affordable option that doesn’t require much time, effort or even casings!
This sausage stuffer is a fast and easy way to make seven small breakfast sausages, hotdogs or cevapcici at the same time. The unit is made from lightweight (6.79 ounces) non-toxic and food-grade BPA-free plastic, with a comfortable grip. Easy to use, you put a ground meat mixture into each of the seven tubes, insert the presser and push with your thumbs — out comes seven perfect sausages.
With no casings to soak and fiddle with, the process is much easier than with larger machines, with ready-to-eat sausages in minutes. This is a functional and fun little gadget at a great price point, ideal for your next BBQ or party. However, if you are looking to make large batches of link sausages, or different sized sausages, this might not be the right choice for you.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Easy to use
- No need to use casings
Cons:
- Only one size sausage
- Only makes seven at a time
What to consider when choosing a sausage stuffer:
Making sausages at home can be a time-consuming activity, but if you love this delicious and versatile food, it’s worth the effort, especially if you use a sausage stuffer. But with so many different brands and models of sausage stuffing machines on the market, it can be a bit confusing to know which one would be the best choice for you. That’s why we’ve listed some of the factors you should consider before taking the plunge and purchasing a sausage stuffer for your home.
Most sausage stuffers, whether manual or electric, work in the same way: you fill a cylinder with the stuffing of your choice, attach a casing to a tube, and then either crank the stuffing out manually into the casing or flip a switch to turn on a motor that pushes the mixture into the casing and voila, you’re on your way to making sausages.
A dedicated sausage stuffing machine comes in one of two designs: horizontal or vertical. The most commonly used design is vertical, but that doesn’t mean a horizontal model is more difficult to use, although it often needs two people to operate efficiently. There are minor pros and cons associated with each design — for example, a vertical model is more of a space-saver, but a horizontal model is sturdier on the counter or table with a lower center of gravity — but it is really a personal choice when it comes to choosing.
Most sausage stuffers are manual, although there are electric models, which are usually more expensive. If you plan on stuffing a lot of sausages a few times a year, it may be worth your while to invest in an electric sausage stuffer, since it really speeds up the process. However, a manually operated machine can do the job well and is easier to find in a variety of price points to suit your budget.
Finally, consider the types of sausages you want to make before choosing a machine. For the most variety, choose a sausage stuffer that is equipped with four or five different sized filling tubes. This will allow you to make everything from small breakfast sausages to thick, fat bratwurst.
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